Registrants will receive a link to watch the recording online as many times as they would like. However, this recording link may expire three months from the date of registration. We cannot guarantee it will be available after those three months.

General Information

• Cost: $45.00 (sales tax included)
• Recording Duration: 91 Minutes
• Broadcast Date: August 25, 2026
• Credits Available for Self-Reporting: None

Webinar Overview

As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services grows, proposals for large data centers are becoming increasingly common in Washington communities. While data centers can bring significant economic development opportunities, tax revenue, and infrastructure investment, they can also create challenges related to energy and water demand, environmental impacts, utility planning, land use compatibility, and other community concerns.

Local governments are increasingly being asked to evaluate these complex tradeoffs through permitting and development review processes. This webinar will explore the experiences of several Washington jurisdictions (cities of Quincy, Tukwila, and Spokane) that have hosted or considered data center projects, highlighting impacts, lessons learned, and regulatory strategies that can help inform local decision-making.

Educational Objectives

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the different types and scales of data centers and the factors that influence where they’re located.
• Identify potential community impacts, including effects on utilities, infrastructure, environmental resources, and economic development.
• Examine permitting, zoning, and regulatory approaches used by Washington jurisdictions to address data center development.
• Learn practical lessons from local governments that have experience evaluating or hosting large data center projects, including managing public communications.

Presenters

• Carl Worley, Municipal Services Director, City of Quincy

• Nora Gierloff, AICP, Community Development Director, City of Tukwila

• Spencer Gardner, AICP, Director of Planning Services, City of Spokane

• Leonard Bauer, FAICP, Planning Consultant, MRSC (moderator)